NICU parents find ‘place of love and comfort’ at Gorecki Guest House
In November 2023, Michelle and Nathan Schultz were eagerly awaiting the birth of their daughter, Stella. The pregnancy was easy and uneventful -- until the birthing process.
Michelle labored for 36 hours at CentraCare – Long Prairie Hospital and ended having a Caesarean (C-Section) delivery. The difficulty toward the end of the labor caused complications resulting in an ambulance ride to CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital (SCH) for both Stella and Michelle.
Little Stella, born full-term and weighing seven pounds, seven ounces, had developed Meconium aspiration syndrome. This occurs when a newborn breathes a mixture of meconium (first bowel movement) and amniotic fluid into the lungs around the time of delivery.
This was followed by persistent pulmonary hypertension when her circulatory system didn’t adapt to breathing outside the uterus.
After two nights at SCH Michelle was set to be discharged. She and Nathan couldn’t bear the thought of driving back and forth from their home outside of Little Falls. Thanks to the recommendation of the nursing staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Michelle and Nathan were able to stay at the Gorecki Guest House directly across from the hospital. For 20 days, this was their home.
“It was a scary thought to be away from her,” said Nathan. “Everyone there was so welcoming and open. It made a crazy, uncomfortable situation more manageable.” “We found a place of love and comfort,” added Michelle.
“Our experience was 100% and then some, far exceeding our expectations,” Nathan continued.
Today, Stella is a thriving, happy baby whose expressions melt the hearts of her parents and big sister, Braylyn. Her parents will be forever grateful for the Gorecki House in their time of need.
The Gorecki Guest House, named after benefactors Benedict and Dorothy Gorecki opened in 2009 and has 28 guest rooms to serve families of patients receiving care in the St. Cloud area.
The guest house relies on donations to offset operating costs and to keep room rates affordable. If you would like to join our family of support, donate online or call CentraCare Foundation at 320-240-2810. You also may support the guest house through a donation of gift cards or household goods, such as beverages, individual serving items, and paper and cleaning products.